Your NPR news source

Frank Main

Staff Reporter News
Capt. Steven Sesso operates the ShotSpotter system at the Harrison District on the West Side.
Criminal Justice
New police stats give Chicago City Council ammo to support keeping ShotSpotter
By Fran Spielman  and Frank Main
 
CTA’s Kimball Brown Line L station yard
CTA touts ‘Second Chance’ program for ex-offenders but few end up with permanent jobs
By Lauren FitzPatrick  and Frank Main
 
White Sox ballpark rendering
The billionaire behind the scenes in White Sox stadium plan
By Frank Main  and Timothy Novak
 
A Chicago police officer at fatal traffic stop in Humboldt Park last month.
Criminal Justice
Watchdog chief questions whether Chicago cops lied about why they stopped Dexter Reed before killing him in exchange of gunfire
By Tom Schuba , Frank Main , and 3 more
 
Dexter Reed, 26, was killed March 21 during a traffic stop by Chicago police.
Criminal Justice
Chicago officials to release video showing fatal police shooting in Humboldt Park
By Tom Schuba  and Frank Main
 
Rifles and handguns recovered by the Chicago Police Department.
Politics
Gun cases in Chicago turned down by feds at higher rate than in most cities
By Frank Main
 
Prosecutors say this image depicts Heriberto Carbajal-Flores firing a gun at 30th Street and Kostner Avenue on June 1, 2020.
Criminal Justice
A gun charge filed during George Floyd rioting in Chicago is dismissed amid controversy
By Jon Seidel , Frank Main , and 1 more
 
semiautomatic Glock
Criminal Justice
Chicago sues Glock over design that allows easy conversion to machine guns
By Frank Main
 
Former President Donald Trump photographed at a border security briefing
Politics
To trace the origins of busing migrants to Chicago, start with Donald Trump, Tucker Carlson and Ted Cruz
By Frank Main  and Tina Sfondeles
 
Then-Chicago police Supt. David Brown speaks at the opening of the Public Safety Training Center, the city’s new police academy, at 701 N. Kilbourn Ave. in Humboldt Park on Jan. 25, 2023.
Criminal Justice
Firm tied to ex-Supt. David Brown back at Chicago’s police academy after being dumped over cost
By Tom Schuba  and Frank Main
 
Hundreds of asylum seekers take shelter inside a waiting area for shuttles near O’Hare International Airport’s Terminal 2 in October 2023.
Politics
A charter plane company used to transport deportees was hired to bring asylum-seekers to Chicago
By Michael Loria , Tom Schuba , and 1 more
 
Photo illustration of someone about to send $1000 to via the Venmo app, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023.
Criminal Justice
‘Bank jackings’ in Chicago see robbers drain victims’ accounts with their phone apps
By Frank Main , Matthew Hendrickson , and 1 more
 
Migrants camped out earlier this month at the Near North police district station at 1160 N. Larrabee Ave., where those arrested for shoplifting on the Magnificent Mile have been processed.
Race, Class & Communities
Despite internal police alerts, scant evidence of violent gang members among Venezuelan migrants in Chicago
By Frank Main  and Tom Schuba
 
People eating outdoors in Chicago
WBEZ Investigations
Investors say a fancy steakhouse in Chicago ‘misappropriated’ millions from feds
By Dan Mihalopoulos  and Frank Main
 
Alison Perona, the Chicago Park District's interim inspector general.
Politics
25 Chicago Park District employees could face firing in COVID relief fraud probe
By Dan Mihalopoulos  and Frank Main
 
James and Paula Crown at MoMa’s Party in the Garden 2022 on June 7, 2022, at The Museum of Modern Art in New York.
James Crown dead in Colorado race track accident at 70; Chicago billionaire had just announced plans to enlist CEOs to fight violent crime
By Frank Main  and Mitch Dudek III
 
James Crown and his wife, Paula Crown
One of Chicago’s wealthiest people is pitching other CEOS to help him curb violence
By Frank Main
 
CPD officer holds up yellow tape at crime scene
Criminal Justice
Yellow-vested Peacekeepers, funded by the state, will patrol Chicago streets Memorial Day weekend
By Frank Main